Rodney Crowell, and others acknowledge Buddy Emmons as one of the “World’s Foremost Steel Guitarist”, as he used to be billed. Emmons helped create (as an inventor) and popularize (as a player) the steel sound most people think of when they think of classic country music. The 16 newly recorded tracks on this tribute disc, The Big E: A Salute to Steel Guitarist Buddy Emmons, reveal Emmons profound influence. The 16-page booklet, full of photos and minuscule detailed texts and diagrams, explains Emmons’ seminal contributions. While this may matter to the country music historians among us, for the rest of us—who cares? As one might imagine, the disc is rich in pedal steel guitar music. This is not for the casual fan who would soon grow bored with the sound of so much picking. The disc is for the discerning listener who cares about how different instrumental maestros, including Greg Leisz, Jaydee Maness, and Dan Dugmore, deal with (the still alive) Emmons’ rich legacy. The material includes a diverse range of music associated with Emmons, including his work with Gram Parsons, Judy Collins, and John B. Sebastian, as well as more traditional country folk such as Roger Miller, Little Jimmy Dickens, and Ray Price.